Quantification of Carbon Stocks and Sequestration Potential through Existing Agroforestry Systems in the Hilly Kupwara District of Kashmir Valley in India

The dynamic carbon accounting model CO2FIX was used for evaluating carbon stocks and estimate greenhouse gas mitigation through tree-based systems, outside the forest area, in Kupwara district of Kashmir valley India. Primary survey results revealed that on an average, there were about 135 trees per hectare, existing on farmers' field. Malus (33.75%), populus (29.91%), salix (14.32%), juglans (6.68%) and robinia (4.7%) were dominant tree species. Paddy and maize are the dominant kharif crops, whereas rabi season is dominated by oilseeds and fodder crops. The carbon sequestration potential, all the three pools simultaneously (viz. tree, crop and soil), of existing agroforestry systems (AFS) has been predicted as 0.88 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. AFS at district level are estimated to sequester 146,996 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, which may offset completely the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture/irrigation sector on account of electricity consumption throughout the state of Jammu and Kashmir.